Metal dust exposure and respiratory health of male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia
Background: This cross sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between metal dust exposure and respiratory health in male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia. Methods: Subjects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire from British Medical Research Council (BMRC) Que...
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| Format: | Article |
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Tehran University of Medical Sciences
2014
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34501/ |
| _version_ | 1848847790642298880 |
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| author | Hamzah, Nurul Ainun Mohd Tamrin, Shamsul Bahri Ismail, Noor Hassim |
| author_facet | Hamzah, Nurul Ainun Mohd Tamrin, Shamsul Bahri Ismail, Noor Hassim |
| author_sort | Hamzah, Nurul Ainun |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: This cross sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between metal dust exposure and respiratory health in male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia.
Methods: Subjects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire from British Medical Research Council (BMRC) Questionnaire regarding respiratory symptoms and were examined their lung function using spirometer.
Results: The mean trace metal dusts concentration TWA8 for cobalt and chromium in most of work unit exceeded occupational exposure prescribed values. Prevalence of chest tightness, chronic phlegm, and shortness of breath was 28.0%, 26.8%, 24.1%, and 20.2% respectively. Age and smoking were among the factors associated with respiratory symptoms (OR: 0.92 – 1.78). Smoking and cumulative respirable metal dust were negatively associated with FEV1.
Conclusion: The mean metal dust for cobalt and chromium were 1 to 2 times higher than permissible exposure limit (PEL). This study found that respirable cumulative metal dust exposure is one of the contributing factors to lung function values among steel workers. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T09:24:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-34501 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T09:24:12Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | Tehran University of Medical Sciences |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-345012015-12-15T07:19:35Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34501/ Metal dust exposure and respiratory health of male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia Hamzah, Nurul Ainun Mohd Tamrin, Shamsul Bahri Ismail, Noor Hassim Background: This cross sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between metal dust exposure and respiratory health in male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia. Methods: Subjects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire from British Medical Research Council (BMRC) Questionnaire regarding respiratory symptoms and were examined their lung function using spirometer. Results: The mean trace metal dusts concentration TWA8 for cobalt and chromium in most of work unit exceeded occupational exposure prescribed values. Prevalence of chest tightness, chronic phlegm, and shortness of breath was 28.0%, 26.8%, 24.1%, and 20.2% respectively. Age and smoking were among the factors associated with respiratory symptoms (OR: 0.92 – 1.78). Smoking and cumulative respirable metal dust were negatively associated with FEV1. Conclusion: The mean metal dust for cobalt and chromium were 1 to 2 times higher than permissible exposure limit (PEL). This study found that respirable cumulative metal dust exposure is one of the contributing factors to lung function values among steel workers. Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2014 Article PeerReviewed Hamzah, Nurul Ainun and Mohd Tamrin, Shamsul Bahri and Ismail, Noor Hassim (2014) Metal dust exposure and respiratory health of male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 43 (suppl.3). pp. 154-166. ISSN 2251-6085; ESSN: 2251-6093 http://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/4893 |
| spellingShingle | Hamzah, Nurul Ainun Mohd Tamrin, Shamsul Bahri Ismail, Noor Hassim Metal dust exposure and respiratory health of male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title | Metal dust exposure and respiratory health of male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title_full | Metal dust exposure and respiratory health of male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Metal dust exposure and respiratory health of male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metal dust exposure and respiratory health of male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title_short | Metal dust exposure and respiratory health of male steel workers in Terengganu, Malaysia |
| title_sort | metal dust exposure and respiratory health of male steel workers in terengganu, malaysia |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34501/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34501/ |